Motor-driven exercising apparatus



June 17, 1969 c. A. RAGON ET AL MOTOR-DRIVEN EXERCISINC APPARATUS Sheet Filed Oct. 24, 1966 4/4/6416 L. Bazens' June 17, 1969 c, RAGON ET AL MOTOR-DRIVEN EXEHCISING APPARATUS Sheet Filed Oct. 24. 1966 INVENTORS 642442460, .mm s zeaaresarawsio, em/ap/Ms' HPdGt'EsJdflM/U/JIfilfF/X Y Warez/s Z. Bqfes June 17, 1969 c. A. RAGON ET AL MOTOR-DRIVEN EXERCISING APPARATUS Sheet Filed Oct. 24. 1966 Huh, "mu

Warm/5' A Bazes June 17, 1969 c. A; RAGON ET AL 3,450,132

MOTOR-DRIVEN EXERCISING APPARATUS Filed Oct. 24. 1966 Sheet 4 of 4 //2 INVENTORS 37 l0 6404. A 246044 0 dd/IES ZIOGIPSOEC4SZZ //0 0r A/dE/A/' meaaieq4awwsze4ze/x Marcus 1. 34/66 United States Patent Int. Cl. A61h 1/02 US. Cl. 128--25 8 Claims This invention relates to a motor-driven exercising apparatus that is especially adapted to impart particular desirable motions to the various limbs of an individual who may be suffering from paralysis and certain muscular disorders.

Exercising machines are known in the prior art. These machines are built for a variety of purposes and are sometimes referred to as weight reducing machines, vibratory machines for inducing blood circulation, manually powered machines for providing manipulations of various portions of the anatomy, and other powered machines wherein various portions of the body are manipulated in a particular fashion to induce improvements in the muscles of a patient.

Machines of the prior art for inducing exercise in the body of a person have not proven entirely satisfactory for polio victims since they fail to provide the patient with the proper manipulative action that is necessary for the rehabilitation of paralyzed muscles. It is desirable that exercising machines for this purpose be specifically built to induce particular motions in the various muscles of polio victims wherein each important limb of the victim may be individually exercised in a particular manner to attain a predetermined motion of the limb.

Accordingly, it is an object of this invention to provide a therapeutic apparatus that is motor driven and includes means thereon to provide exercise for the legs, hips, back, and arms.

Another object of this invention is the provision of a therapeutic machine that includes means associated therewith by which the horizontal or patient receiving portion of the device may be elevated in a vertical direction to thereby enable a physician to manipulate and supervise 'the body while it is undergoing treatment upon the device.

Another object of this invention is the provision of a powered therapeutic machine that imparts a predetermined amount of motion to each leg and at the same time with respect to the other leg a predetermined "amount to thereby influence the exercise of the hip'muscles as well 'as the pelvic region.

Another object of this invention is the provision of a therapeutic exercising device having adjustable means associated therewith whereby the device may be lengthened or shortened to accommodate either adults or children.

Another object of this invention is the provision of a therapeutic exercising device having associated therewith means that manipulates the back muscles in a manner that prevents chafing and scrubbing of the patients back.

Another object of this invention is the provision of a therapeutic exercising device that manipulates the arm and shoulder muscles in a predetermined manner and wherein the arms may be spread apart from the body a predetermined amount while undergoing the manipulative action. v

Another object of this invention is the provision of a therapeutic exercising device that includes means for vibrating the feet, means for exercising the legs, means for spreading the legs apart while carrying out the above manipulative action, means for exercising the back, means for exercising the arms, and means for spreading the provides means by which each leg may be spread apart Patented June 17, 1969 arms apart while undergoing certain manipulative action thereof.

Another object of this invention is the provision of an adjustable means in conjunction with a therapeutic exercising device wherein a neck stretcher may be used in conjunction with the machine.

The above objects are attained in accordance with the teachings of this invention by providing a therapeutic exercising device suitably mounted upon a platform and having associated therewith electrical motor-driven oscillatory producing means that effects a particular motion with respect to the legs, back, and arms of a person that may be afflicted with a disorder in one or more portions of his anatomy.

FIGURE 1 is a side elevational view of an apparatus made in accordance with the teachings of the present invention.

FIGURE 2 is a top plan view of the device illustrated in FIGURE 1.

FIGURE 3 is an enlarged side elevation of part of the device seen in FIGURES l and 2, with some parts broken away so as to more clearly illustrate the details of the invention, and some parts shown in section.

FIGURE 4 is a cross sectional view taken along line 44 of FIGURE 3.

FIGURE 5 is an enlarged perspective view of part of the device seen in FIGURES 1 through 3.

FIGURE 6 is an enlarged side elevational View of the device seen in FIGURES 1 and 2, with some parts removed and other parts shown in section so as to more clearly illustrate the details of the invention.

FIGURE 7 is an enlarged cross sectional view taken along line 77 of FIGURE 6.

FIGURE 8 is a side elevational view of the device seen in FIGURE 6 with additional apparatus shown added thereto that is made in accordance with the teachings of this invention.

FIGURE 9 is a top plan view of a modification of part of the device seen in FIGURE 8.

FIGURE 10 is an enlarged fragmentary representation of part of the device illustrated in FIGURES 1 and 2, with some parts broken away.

Referring to the drawings in detail, the apparatus of the present invention comprises an exercising machine generally indicated by the arrow at numeral 12 which includes a leg exercising assembly, generally indicated by the arrow at numeral 14, upon which the feet, legs, and thighs may be rested. The buttocks are rested upon the padded seat portion indicated generally by the numeral 16. The back is received in reclining position upon the part of the device generally indicated by an arrow at numeral 18. Numeral 20 indicates the arm exercising mechanism of the device. A neck stretcher 22 is adjustably provided in overhanging relationship with respect to the head of the patient. A powered elevator 24 adjustably supports the device in a vertical direction. The entire exercising machine is suitably mounted upon a base 26.

The frame members 27 carries the leg exercising assembly 14 and pivotally depends from the main framework 28. 'Each frame member may be adjustably pivoted away from each other in a scissor like manner.

A removable cushion 30 forms the seating portion of the device and is removably positioned as indicated in FIGURES 1 and 2 so as to permit access to the remaining portion of the exerciser mechanism located therebelow, as well as to enable different sizes of cushions to be utilized. The cushions at 32 and 32' form a first thigh cushion and the cushions at 34 and 34' provide a second thigh cushion. The leg cushions 36 and 36" are likewise removably positioned in the indicated manner. A foot cushion 38 and 38' is vertically and removably positioned with respect to the leg cushion 36.- The back cushion is illustrated as being comprised of two elongated padded cushions 40 and 40', however, it should be understood that a single cushion may be substituted therefor when it is deemed desirable. The arm rests are provided with cushions 41 and 41 that receive the lower arm and cushions 42 and 42' that receive the upper arm.

The entire patient receiving portion of the device includes a reversible motor and gear box 43 that selectively rotates the oppositely threaded rod 44 to thereby raise and lower the device by retracting and extending the enlarged nuts associated with each extremity of the oppositely threaded rod 44 to thereby allow the various parts to be compressed or extended by rotating the support members about the various pivots, such as illustrated by the numerals at 45, for example.

Looking now to the details of the leg exercising assembly 14, there is illustrated in FIGURES 3 through a first member 47 and a second member 48 that are joined together by bolt 49 and pin 50 to thereby provide a unitary member that supports the before mentioned thigh pads 32 and 34. The bolt at 50 provides a journaled connection by which the end at 52 may be actuated in a vertical direction about the pivoted end at pin 52'. This motion imparts a reciprocating motion to the depending end 51 of the leg supporting member. It should be noted that section 48 may be removed by removing bolt 49 and pin 50 and substituting the journaled portion at 52 for the pin 50 so as to shorten the thigh supporting member to a suitable length appropriate for a child. Intermediate lengths between these two extremities may be satisfactorily accommodated by using varied lengths of member 48.

The pads of the instant device are maintained in proper alignment with respect to the pad carrying members by means of a retaining device illustrated generally by the arrow at numeral 53, and includes a vertically upstanding cylindrical housing 54 which telescopingly receives a smaller depending member 55 that is slidably received therewithin. The depending member 55 is rigidly affixed to a flange 56 which is suitably apertured as illustrated to enable it to be secured to a pad member such as seen at 32, for example.

Perpendicularly extending from the depending end of the leg carrying frame that supports the before mentioned pad 36 is a foot receiving member 58 to which is secured a vibratory motor 59. The lower depending end of the leg supporting frame terminates in the before mentioned end portion 51 which is suitably journaled to a pair of spaced apart rollers 60 and 60 that cooperate with a lower roller 61 by means of straps 62 and 62. The straps are suitably attached to an upper axle 63 and a lower axle 63 to thereby maintain the depending end 51 of the leg supporting device properly aligned in slidable relationship with respect to the frame member 27 so as to permit the end portion 51 to reciprocate with respect to the frame 27. Accordingly, the reciprocating shaft 64 which is journaled to either pivot pin 50 or 52, will impart up and down motion to the thigh and leg supporting elements, so as to enable the thigh supporting element to pivot at pin 52 while at the same time permitting the end portion 51 of the leg supporting member to reciprocate longitudinally of the member 27 Looking now to FIGURE 6 in conjunction with the re maining figures wherein there is disclosed the details of the back exercising assembly 18. As illustrated in FIG- URES 6 and 7, the back exercising assembly is pivoted to the main frame 28 by lug 65 having a pivot pin therethrough so as to pivotally support two spaced apart tubular frame members 66. Slide elements 67 cooperate with upstanding mount means 68 to thereby slidably support the base 69 upon which pad 40 is mounted. Cross-member 70 includes a clevis 71 that receives a reciprocating rod 72 therein that is driven by the eccentric drive means 73. The reciprocating rod is comprised of two telescoping .4 members that are bolted together at 74 to thereby provide adjustable drive means for the back exercising assembly.

The neck stretching device 22 includes an upstanding member 75 that is suitably secured to a longitudinally and telescopingly arranged member that is adjustably received within the depending ends of the before mentioned spaced apart tubular frames 66. The friction device seen at numeral 76 maintains the member 75 adjustably secured to the frame 66. An overhead pulley 77 provides attachment means for the neck stretching device (not shown).

A pillow block bearing 78 is provided on each of the spaced apart tubular frame members 66 for a purpose that will be more fully discussed later on.

Looking now to the details of FIGURE 8 in conjunction with FIGURES 1 and 2 wherein there is disclosed an arm rest comprised of tubular frame member 80 that supports a depending mounting means 81 thereon that forms means for supporting the before mentioned upper arm portion 42. A lower arm rest comprised of tubular frame member 82 is suitably journaled to the upper member 80 by the journaled connection 83. Eccentric drive connection 84 is rigidly attached to the lower tubular member 82 to thereby provide eccentric drive means for the arm rest device 20. The motor that provides the eccentric drive means (not shown) oscillates the lower member 82 so as to permit the eccentric drive connection 84 to be imparted with an eccentric motion thereby eccentrically driving the lower arm member 82 while the journaled connection 83 permits oscillatory motion since the entire device is suspended from only two points that include the eccentric connection 84 and the pillow block bearing 78. Front rollers 85 and rear rollers 86 are held captive within a rectangular rail frame 87 that permits longitudinal motion of thelower arm rest 41 with respect to the frame 87. The lower arm rest is suitably connected in'the illustrated manner to the rollers 85 and 86. The frame 87 is pivoted at adjustable mount lug 88 by one of the multiplicity of apertures 89 to thereby provide for adjustability of the arm rest. A hinge 90 operatively connects the lower and upper arm rest members 41 and 42 together.

FIGURE 9 illustrates a modification of the arm rest seen in FIGURE 8 that enables the entire arm rest to be pivoted away from the frame 66 to thereby selectively enable various manipulative actions to be carried out in order to provide exercise of muscles located within the chest cavity and shoulder areas of the patient. As seen in FIGURE 9, the upper arm rest 91 is attached to the lower arm rest 92 by a hinged member 93 in essentially the same before described and illustrated manner of FIG- URE 8. An eccentric drive means 94 drives the lower arm rest member in the same manner as described in conjunction with FIGURE 8. A cantilever arm 95 is suitably mounted by pivot means 96 to the before mentioned frame member 66. A roller is provided in conjunction with the cantilever arm 95 to permit the entire arm rest device to be pivoted from the illustrated position to that indicated by the dashed lines at 98.

Looking now to FIGURE 10 in conjunction with the remaining figures wherein there is illustrated the manner in which each of the cantilever legs 27 and 27 may be selectively pivoted away from each other or brought into substantially parallel relationship with each other in a scissor like fashion. The main frame 28 of the exercising device terminates in a curved plate 100 that joins the two leg supporting members 27 and 27' together. A reinforced plate means 102 and 102' is pivotally mounted at 104 to thereby maintain the cantilever leg support means 27 and 27' suitably attached to the remainder of the device. A bearing means 106 and 106' is suitably journaled within a cut-out to thereby enable each cantilever leg supporting member to be pivoted about the journaled attachment 104. Lugs 108 and 108' depend from the inside of each cantilever leg supporting member and are connected by levers 110 to a yoke 114 having a bearing 112 suitably provided therein in the illustrated manner. The yoke 114 is attached to a shaft 116 that is slidably enclosed within a sleeve 118. Shaft 116 is pivoted at 120' to lever 122 which in turn is pivoted to the plate member 100 as seen at 120. A handle 124 cooperates with a notched control means 126 so as to enable movement of the handle 124 longitudinally of the frame to engage the notches provided Within the member 126 to thereby move the yoke 114 longitudinally of the frame that in turn pivots each of the cantilever leg supporting means.

In operation, the therapeutic exercising device of FIG- URE 1 is placed in any convenient portion of a room where it is operatively supported by the base 26 which sets on the floor. The motor and gear box are energized to place the framework 28 at either an extremely low level to enable the patient to sit upon the centrally located cushion 30, or when necessary, the framework is elevated to a suitable height to allow the patient to be moved directly from a stretcher onto the device. Each variable speed motor associated with the device is preferably controlled from a central panel or console( not shown). The console may be provided with a timing device so as to enable the patient to be left unattended when possible.

The patient is seated upon the cushion 30 and each leg is extended to enable the thighs to contact pad 32 and 34, and the lower legs to contact pad 36 with the feet pressed against the pads 38. The back rests against cushion 40 with the head located near the upper extremity of cushions 40 and within the space therebetween. Sometimes it is advantageous to place a small pillow under the patients head. The patients arms are arranged at his sides with the lower arm portion resting upon cushion 41 and the upper arm resting upon cushion 42. Straps may be used to secure the patient to the device, if desired.

Depending upon the portion or portions of the patients body requiring stimulation or exercise, the device is energized so as to manipulate the desired portions of the patients body requiring treatment. Where the patient is small in size, for example a child, section 48 is advantageously removed to shorten the overall leg portion. Section 48 is readily removed or replaced merely by removing bolt 49 and pivot pins 50 and 52 to thereby permit the reciprocating drive shaft 64 to be journaled to the leg carrying member at pin 52 by sliding the leg carrying portion of the deivce toward the aperture that carries pin 50.

Upon energization of the eccentric motor drive means that imparts reciprocatory motion to shaft 64, the thigh receiving pads 32 and 34 are driven in an upward and downward direction with the depending end 52, for example, describing a limited are about the pivot pin 52'. Rollers 60 and 62 reciprocate longitudinally within the cantilever leg supporting frame work 27. Each of the cantilever leg support means may be extended away from each other by properly positioning the handle 124 with respect to the indicator 126. Movement of the handle 124 moves the yoke that in turn forces each cantilever leg supporting means 27 and 27 towards or away from each other in accordance to the direction of longitudinal movement of yoke 114.

The operation of the back exercising assembly is best understood from FIGURE 6 together with FIGURES 1, 2, and 7. The spaced apart tubular frames 66 are each tied together by a horizontal cross member 70 that has rigidly attached thereto a clevis 71 to which there is journaled a reciprocating rod 72. The length of the rod 72 may be adjusted by the nut and bolt arrangement at 74. The reciprocating rod is driven by the motor-driven eccentric wheel 73. Each of the spaced apart tubular frame members 66 are journaled to spaced apart lugs 65 that forms a pivot point for the back exercising assembly. The pad 40 is suitably attached to a base 69 that in turn is slidably attached to each of the spaced apart tubular frames 66 by means of the slide elements 67. The patients back rests on the pad 40 and the eccentric drive means 73 imparts an upward and downward pivotal movement to the entire back exercising assembly. The pad 40 remains against the patients back since the slide element 67 moves longitudinally with respect to the spaced apart tubular frame 66 as the assembly moves in a limited are about lugs 65. This motion prevents the pads 40 from moving longitudinally with respect to the patients back, and hence avoids chafing and rubbing of the skin. Since the tubular frame 66 slidably moves with respect to the pad 40, the neck stretching device may be attached at pulley 77 to thereby place a predetermined and desirable strain upon a patients neck by means of a saddle-like arrangement that is placed about the patients chin and attached to a cable placed through the pulley 77 and to either a resilient means or a weight placed at the opposite end of the device. v

The arm exercising assembly is journaled to the framework of the assembly by means of a pillow block bearing 78 and depending lug 84 with the lug being journaled to an eccentric drive means. The eccentric movement at84 causes the lower arm rest device to describe a circular motion thereby imparting movement to the upper arm rest mount means since the latter is journaled to the lower arm rest at 83. The upper arm rest 42 is directly attached to the upper arm rest member 80 and the lower arm rest 41 is slidably and pivotally attached to the lower arm rest member 82 by means of the captive rollers 85 and 86. Members 41 and 42 are hinged together-at 90, with member 41 being slidably affixed to the frame 87, with the frame 87 being pivoted to the member 82 at pivot pin 88. Hence the arm rest comprised of members 41 and 42 permit the arm of a patient to be exercised with an oscillatory motion that prevents scrubbing of the lower and upper portions of the patients arm.

It will be understood that the form of our invention shown and described here is a single preferred example of one way of practicing the invention and that various changes in size, shape, and arrangement of parts may be made without departing from the spirit of our invention, or the scope of the appended claims.

Having thus described our invention, we claim:

1. In combination with an exercising apparatus including a base, a main frame adapted to support the body of a patient, and a vertically adjustable supporting structure attached between said base and said frame; the improvement comprising: v

said main frame including means supporting a leg supporting means, aseat member, a back supporting member, and an arm supporting means attached to said back supporting member;

said back supporting member including a first frame member having means forming apivoted end and a free end, means for rocking said free end about said pivoted end in a limited arc;

said back supporting member including a back supporting pad slidably attached to said first frame member to thereby enable said back supporting pad to remain closely adjacent to a patients skin when the first frame member is rocked about said pivoted end thereof.

2. The combination of claim 1 wherein said arm supporting means further includes:

an upper arm frame member journaled to and depending from said first frame member;

a lower arm frame member journaled to the depending end of said upper arm frame member and including eccentric drive means attached to said first frame member;

an upper arm rest attached to said upper arm frame member, a lower arm rest pivotally attached to said upper arm frame member, said lower arm rest including means slidably and pivotally connecting it to said lower arm frame member; whereby:

said eccentric drive means imparts an eccentric motion to the free end of the lower arm rest.

3. The apparatus of claim 2 wherein the means slidably and pivotally connecting the lower arm rest to the lower arm rest frame member includes spaced apart rollers attached to said lower arm rest, a boxed in frame pivotally attached to said lower arm rest frame member; said boxed in frame slidably receiving said rollers therein to thereby hold said rollers slidably captive therein.

4. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said leg supporting means includes a cantilever arm, leg and thigh supporting members, and eccentric means for. imparting relative motion between said leg and thigh supporting members with respect to said cantilever arm;

said thigh supporting member having a pivoted end,

a journaled end, and connecting means journaled between said pivoted andjournaled ends for receiving a shaft adapted to be reciprocated by said eccentric I means; 7

said'leg supporting member including a journaled end and a slidable end with said slidable end being slidably received by said cantilever arm and said journaled end being attached to the journaled end of said thigh supporting member.

5. The combination of claim 4 wherein said thigh supporting member is comprised of a first member including the journaled end and a depending end, said second member including the pivoted end and a depending end, and means rigidly joining the depending ends of said members together at said connecting means; whereby:

said first member may be removed to thereby shorten the leg supporting means to accordingly adjust the length of the device.

6. The combination of claim 4 wherein said leg supporting means includes a left cantilever arm and a right cantilever arm for receiving the left and right legs respectively of a patient;

each said cantilever arm having a free end and a pivoted end with said pivoted ends being pivotally arranged in spaced apart relationship with respect to said frame; means for spreading the free ends of said cantilever arms apart to thereby enable a patients legs to be spread apart a predetermined amount while being exercised.

7. The combination of claim 1 wherein said leg supporting means includes a left cantilever arm and a right cantilever arm for receiving the left and right legs respectively of a patient;

' each said cantilever arm having a free end and a pivoted end with said pivoted ends being pivotally arranged in spaced apart relationship with respect to said frame;

means for spreading the free ends of said cantilever arms apart to thereby enable a patients legs to be spread apart a predetermined amount during exercise thereof. 8. The combination of claim 1 wherein said arm supporting means further includes:

an upper arm rest frame member journaled to and depending from said first frame member;

a lower arm rest frame member journaled to said upper arm rest frame member and including eccentric drive means attached to said first frame member;

an upper arm rest attached to said upper arm rest frame member, a lower arm rest pivotally attached to said upper arm rest, said lower arm rest including means slidably and pivotally connecting it to said lower arm rest frame member whereby said eccentric drive means imparts an eccentric motion to the free end of the lower arm rest;

a said means slidably and pivotally connecting the lower arm rest to the lower arm rest frame member includes spaced apart rollers attached to said lower arm rest, a boxed in frame pivotally attached to said lower .7 arm rest frame member; said boxed in frame slidably receiving said rollers therein to thereby hold said rollers slidably captive therein;

said leg supporting means includes a cantilever arm, a leg and thigh supporting member, and eccentric means for imparting relative motion between said leg and thigh supporting members with respect to said cantilever arm;

said thigh supporting member having a pivoted end, a

journaled end, and connecting means journaled between said pivoted and journaled ends for receiving a shaft adapted to be reciprocated by said eccentric means;

said leg supporting member including a journaled end and a slidable end with said slidable end being slidably received by said cantilever arm and said journaled end being attached to the journaled end of said thigh supporting member;

said thigh supporting member including a first member having a journaled end and second member having a pivoted end and including means rigidly joining the members together at said connecting means to enable said first member to be removed to thereby shorten the leg supporting means to accordingly adjust the length of the device.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,763,261 9/1956 Masmonteil et al. 128-33 3,015,330 1/1962 Linstrom 128-25 3,060,926 10/ 1962 May 12825 7 L. W. TRAPP, Primary Examiner. 

1. IN COMBINATION WITH AN EXERCISING APPARATUS INCLUDING A BASE, A MAIN FRAME ADAPTED TO SUPPORT THE BODY OF A PATIENT, AND A VERTICALLY ADJUSTABE SUPPORTING STRUCTURE ATTACHED BETWEEN SAID BASE AND SAID FRAME; THE IMPROVEMENT COMPRISING: SAID MAIN FRAME INCLUDING MEANS SUPPORTING A LEG SUPPORTING MEANS, A SEAT MEMBER, A BACK SUPPORTING MEMBER, AND AN ARM SUPPORTING MEANS ATTACHED TO SAID BACK SUPPORTING MEMBER; SAID BACK SUPPORTING MEMBER INCLUDING A FIRST FRAME MEMBER HAVINGS MEANS FORMING A PIVOTED END AND A FREE END, MEANS FOR ROCKING SAID FREE END ABOUT SAID PIVOTED END IN A LIMITED ARC; SAID BACK SUPPORTING MEMBER INCLUDING A BACK SUPPORTING PAD SLIDABLY ATTACHED TO SAID FIRST FRAME MEMBER TO THEREBY ENABLE SAID BACK SUPPORTING PAD TO REMAIN CLOSELY ADJACENT TO A PATIENT''S SKIN WHEN THE FIRST FRAME MEMBER IS ROCKED ABOUT SAID PIVOTED END THEREOF. 